I'm Back From My Reality TV Hiatus, and I Have Some Thoughts
Hey Hollywood, centering a variety of bodies is cool.
I grew up watching a lot of reality TV. I was introduced to “Real World” and “Jersey Shore“ and “Top Model” and “Project Runway.” I’d watched many seasons of “The Bachelor”/”The Bachelorette” with my parents (of all people). The bodies centered on television in the late 90s/early 2000s were typically one-dimensional. Our culture tended to center smaller bodies over larger bodies. More times than not, you wouldn’t see a solid variety of differing shapes and sizes on reality TV (especially in shows like “Top Model.”)
Anyways, I digress.
I used to be a big Disney Channel girlie. Like I’d said above, I watched a lot of reality TV. I wasn’t really into narrative film and TV until I moved to Los Angeles almost seven years ago. I got really into indie film since the pandemic and ditched reality TV for narrative film and kind of never looked back. Until this year…
I was recently introduced to season 9 of “Love Is Blind,” and I couldn’t look away. Partially because it’s so cringe, partially because of how wild and fascinating it, and partially because of the bodily variation in the contestants. There’s an array of different body types (especially in women). This is something I’ve been literally dying to see reflected in dating shows like The “Bachelor”/”Bachelorette” Franchise. But go producers of “Love Is Blind,” go for incorporating an array of varying body shapes, sizes, and builds. [While I did think they featured more white people than not off the bat, they do an overall good job of centering a variety of differing races too.] Needless to say, as cringe as it may have been at times, it was actually refreshing to watch these humans attempt to find love on television.
Another show I’ve been watching as of late is “Dancing With The Stars.” My roommates and I recently started watching the newest season, which is fun because I have another good friend who actually works on the show. And though my mom is obsessed with the show, I haven’t watched DWTS in… ages.
I was pleasantly surprised with the differing body shapes of the stars that I saw on the first episode of this latest season! We’ve got young, old, tall, short, petite, plus-size, and a variety of different races. It has made the experience of watching the show that much more enjoyable to see a bunch of different people dancing and moving and shining in their own ways. It’s inspiring to me, and I can imagine to others that see themselves reflected in the stars that star in the show. (Now, if only we could cast dancers that had an array of varying body types too - but that might be another conversation for another day.)
I didn’t realize my return to watching reality TV would have given me this much hope. We can only cross our fingers that this ripple effect continues to roll out… in the world of reality television and beyond.
In body healing,
Megan ❤️🔥
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While I’m not a licensed therapist, registered dietician, or medical health professional and cannot speak to body image topics from a clinical, trauma-informed place, I am an expert of lived experience. I’m an academic of my own body, and I’m passionate about facilitating conversations with other humans about their relationships with their bodies. I believe it’s important to continue conversations about healthy body image in creative spaces as a means to heal individuals as well as the collective whole. But just know the information presented in this medium is not professional mental health advice or medical advice, and any questions or concerns you have should always be directed to your healthcare providers.